Erdoğan to visit South Korea in May for official talks

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is to pay an official visit to South Korea next month, according to the presidential press office.

Upon the invitation of his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, Erdoğan will be in Seoul on May 2-3 following his visit to Uzbekistan, the press office stated on April 25.

“The Korean peninsula has been going through an important process at a time of intensifying efforts to establish stability,” the statement said.

“Turkey, which has historical ties [with Korea], sees the talks over the future of the Korean Peninsula as a valuable opportunity and supports efforts to resolve the problems,” it added.

North and South Korea have been in a state of war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a cease-fire rather than a peace treaty.

During that conflict Turkish forces served under the U.N. Command and 774 Turkish soldiers were killed.

During his trip, President Erdoğan will also visit the National Assembly of South Korea and meet with Chung Sye-Kyun, the speaker of the National Assembly.

The Turkish president is also expected to hold talks with the officials of a number of leading Korean companies.